THE ONLY VIRTUE IN THE NOMURA APPOINTMENT 317

because of the collapse of Great Britain, and America's entrance into
• the hostilities is expected to occur sometime this year. These events,
it is said, will shift the major scene of hostilities from Europe to the
Pacific, with Japan and the United States as the " main forces of the
belligerents." The editorial refers to the recent remarks of War
Minister Tojo and to the messages exchanged between Matsuoka
and Ribbentrop, quoting Ribbentrop as stating that Britain will be
" wiped out by autumn of this year at the latest/5 and declares that
the Axis powers have had ample provocation from the United States
to declare war against that country.

CLASH WITH MATSUOKA

January 18, 1941

At the farewell luncheon given by Matsuoka for Admiral Nomura
to-day, I was talking with them both and was expressing the hope
that the Admiral would be able to exert his influence (I didn't say
where the influence was to be exerted) to improve American-Japanese
relations. Matsuoka remarked : " They certainly couldn't be worse,"
and turned away.

At the luncheon Matsuoka also practically threatened the United
States with war, and I immediately replied to the following effect:
" The Minister, too, has lived long enough in the United States to
know that the American people are fundamentally peace-minded
and, furthermore, that they stand for justice and equity. He also
knows that the American people are firmly determined on certain
matters among which, on the one hand, are their obligations and,
on the other hand, their rights. Their profoundest wish is to see
peace, prosperity, security, stability, and happiness assured to all
nations. In the present state of world affairs we must inevitably
realize that what counts in international relationships to-day is the
concrete evidence of facts and actions, regardless of the persuasive
garb in which such facts and actions may be dressed. Let us say of
nations as of men : e By their fruits ye shall know them.5"

THE ONLY VIRTUE IN THE NOMURA APPOINTMENT

January 20, 1941

In the numerous times that I have met Admiral Nomura on the
round of farewell parties given for him, even though I sat with him
for half an hour on the sofa to-night, he has not said a single word
to me about the prospects of his job or of his observations during his
recent visit to China. He is dearly not at home in speaking English.
I can hardly picture him in a group of hard-boiled American Senators
or Congressmen or newspaper men or officials holding up his end in a
discussion. Yet Bishop Biker, visiting Methodist bishop, told me that
he had had a long talk with the Admiral in the latter's home and
that he had been impressed by his choice of language and familiarity
with long words. In any case, language is not what counts now or